Malky Mackay admits there will be nerves at Hull today – but the Cardiff City boss is just thankful none of them will come from the Bluebirds’ camp.

Already crowned champions and looking forward to life in the Premier League next season, Cardiff visit a Hull side just a win away from joining their visitors in the top flight.

Steve Bruce’s Tigers know three points would see them pip Mackay’s former club Watford to that second automatic promotion spot.

But if Hull fail to win and the Hornets beat Leeds at home, the Tigers will tumble into the dreaded lottery of the play-offs.

It is a situation Bluebirds supporters are all too familiar with down the years, but for the more than 2,000 expected to make the trip from South Wales today it will be fancy dress party time rather than nail-biting time.

“It will be an interesting one because there’s going to be a lot of nervousness there in terms of the Hull fans,” said Mackay.

“Then in the other corner you are going to have Donald Duck and Superman stood there amongst our fans.

“We are playing a £100m game so there has to be an integrity there. We had the same against Bolton and that won’t change.

“The fact the big prize – the £80m prize – is still up for grabs on the last day of the season shows what a good division this is. Although I am glad I’m not involved in it!

“We need to perform as champions and we want to get as many points as we can.

“We want to show why we’re champions and give the standard of performance that our fans have come to expect.

“We go to Hull and do everything we can to win because that is what we do.

“If we do that, Hull do that and Watford do that then no-one can ask any more.”

But Mackay admits he does still have a soft spot for the club where he finished his playing career and first cut his managerial teeth.

Gianfranco Zola’s Watford lie a point behind Hull and will be hoping the Bluebirds can do them a favour.

“There’s not particularly any added incentive when it comes to Watford, although they are a club close to my heart,” said Mackay brushing off any thoughts of sentimentality.

“But we are going into the game looking out for ourselves.

“It’s nothing to do with me or Cardiff City. Watford will play their game and try to beat Leeds and Hull will try to beat us and, come the final whistle, we’ll see how the land lies in the division.”

On the pitch, Mackay will be without several first-team regulars with Craig Bellamy, who has an Achilles problem, the most notable.

Heidar Helguson, who will leave the club to move back to his native Iceland this summer, has played his final Cardiff match as he still has a calf problem.

Defenders Matthew Connolly and Mark Hudson will not travel due to their respective ankle problems.

But there could be a return for two injured strikers, with Fraizer Campbell recovered from his shin problem and Mackay confirming that long-term absentee Nicky Maynard may get a run off the bench after missing almost the entire season with cruciate knee damage.

“I’m delighted Nicky has had a couple of development games and it is time now to get him back in a first-team strip in preparation for next season,” said Mackay.

“We’ll wait and see how the games goes, but he’s going to be involved in the squad.

“Etien Velikonja, too, has waited his time and he’s doing well, so he will be another one involved as well.”

Mackay also admitted work was already well under way to ensure that the club’s return to the top tier for the first time in more than half a century was not a fleeting one.

That means that some of the team lining up at the KC Stadium today won’t even be at the club come August to enjoy the razzmatazz of the Premier League.

And Mackay knows what that can be like after helping Norwich and West Ham up as a player and then moving on before finally tasting top-flight action with Watford.

“It’s possible it may be the last game for some, but I don’t have a list of people who will not play in the Premier League,” said Mackay. “But it is one of those things that football moves on. Who knows right now how the team will shape up next season?

“I’ve got a great group of players I’m proud of and those in contract, who start with us pre-season, will be giving everything to be involved in the Premier League.

“Our preparations are on-going. We now have the opportunity to look outside the UK.

“I’ve not got exact names of players I’m going to sign tomorrow, but it is on-going.

“It’s not about numbers, but we’ll look at areas of the pitch we need filling.

“But if a good player comes along, a player who can improve the squad, then we’ll get him.”

However, before such matters come the celebrations with the Bluebirds having an open-top bus parade in the capital tomorrow to mark what has been a historic campaign.

Mackay said it looked likely to be a day no-one in the city would forget in a hurry.

“There will be points in people’s lives that have never come before and probably will never come again,” he said.

“That’s not just for the players, but for the people of Cardiff too.

“If the weather is OK there will be 100,000 people out in Cardiff and it is going to be sensational. I believe it’s going to live long in the memory.”